The Carnival is a traditional Barcelona holiday in February created to acknowledge the week before Lent begins. This celebration, known for its vibrant masks and colorful costumes, is considered a way for locals to enjoy a few guilty pleasures before their time of fasting and praying begins on Ash Wednesday and continues throughout Lent, which ends Easter Day. Generally known as a week of debauchery and gluttony, the Carnival in Barcelona is a series of extravagant events consisting of costumed performers, exciting games, and lots of eating meat (particularly hot dogs), since it is encouraged to sacrifice eating meat during Lent. Learn more about how Carnival began and how it has developed to include the activities that this Barcelona holiday presents today.
Table of Contents
All About Carnival, a Barcelona Holiday
History
Carnival can be traced back all the way to the Middle Ages. This holiday is reported to have originated in Rome, influenced by their Saturnalia celebration, and then spread throughout the regions of Europe. The early motivation of this week-long holiday was to embrace the concept of throwing social norms out the window and becoming whatever you wanted to be before you were forced to abide by the 40 days of fasting and submissiveness during Lent. Locals would dress up in animal costumes and attend parades to celebrate this wild time of freedom before Lent began. Today, these festivities have expanded to include even more entertaining events and activities!
Present-Day Carnival: Events
Today’s Carnival celebration in Barcelona involves a variety of live shows and performances, including parades jugglers, singers, dancers, bands, plays, and much more. Locals and visitors of all ages, usually dressed in masks and costumes, attend this event spread throughout the city. This Barcelona holiday begins on Dijous Gras, meaning “Dirty Thursday” or “Fat Thursday,” during which people gorge themselves on decadent, greasy, and fattening foods. The week continues with countless events, including La Taronjada, a “battle” of orange balloons and confetti. The Carnival celebration ends on Ash Wednesday with the Burial of the Sardine; this tradition, which is comprised of feasting and music, represents the death of the party and the rebirth of society. This year’s Carnival will take place from February 4- February 6, 2016.
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